Tag Archives: New Year’s

The last day of the year, the final page in a book, the last scene in a movie…these are things that bring mixed emotions to be sure.

If the book is one you’ve loved and is well written and doesn’t have a sequel you’re quite possibly heartbroken, bereft, wondering what you’ll do with all the free time you’ll now find on your hands. If however, the book or movie wasn’t handled well at the end you may feel angry, frustrated, as though you’ve been cheated. If you loved the book and it’s the first in a series…well, Hallelujah!

Life is not unlike these scenarios. If it’s the end of a year that was terrific you may be facing the next one anticipating even greater feats and experiences. Some would approach the new year with fear that it won’t be “the same” (it won’t) or “as good” (it might be better).

Still others exiting a year that was less than stellar might be counting their blessings that it wasn’t worse and they might be anticipating that “sometimes a change is as good as a rest” to quote my mom and grandmother.

Life (and a book and a movie) are all in how you approach them. I’ve seen people who’ve had the rug yanked from underneath them more than once and yet they picked themselves up (with a cheerful disposition) and soldiered on. Now, this isn’t to say they didn’t have moments of sadness or frustration. No, sir. That would be abnormal. But, it does mean that these folks didn’t let these setbacks color their entire perception of the world. There are too many things to be grateful for and to be appreciative of to let the fear and negative take over.

For all who are fearing 2015, hang in there as I’ll look forward with a smile for all of us until you are able to join me.

As our family prepares to opens the gratitude jar to usher out 2014 and welcome in 2015 I realize that many families (three of which I am acutely aware) are mourning the loss of a family member (two are mourning the loss of a child and sibling, the other a father and husband) at this time of year. It occurred to me that as we embark on the newness of a shiny new year these folks may view it differently. Each passing moment is one that puts them farther away from their loved one. They will, on Thursday, be entering into a year that their loved one has never (and will never) inhabited. That has got to be daunting.

In reading the book, “Fearless” I realize that the fear of being forgotten or thought of us inconsequential is a universal one. We all matter. God made each and every one of us because there wasn’t another on Earth who could take our place and be in our stead.

We each have a divine purpose and role to play in this world. Some are called to be here longer than others. This is all in God’s time which, invariably, is not our time.

The thing I will do is pray for these families to know peace and to find comfort in sharing memories, enjoying pictures and telling stories about their loved ones. I will tell stories that I know will continue these people’s legacies.

As my dear father always reminded us, we all have an invisible tattoo in the middle of our foreheads that reads, “Make me feel important.”

You matter, Tommy, David and Courtney, and will be remembered by those who knew you and some who just knew of you. You are all important to many more that you ever would have realized. Happy New Year to you all.

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